Here’s a surprise: the fourth installment of the “Bad Boys” franchise is kind of fun. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith may not be pitched at the same level as they were in the last one, but “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” throws new curves. Lawrence’s character suffers a heart attack; Smith’s deals with relationship woes (and, yes, a slap).
Both, however, are determined to learn who framed their friend and tried to make him the focus of a drug investigation. Oddly enough, the new stance works. Will Smith, left, and Martin Lawrence in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
" Frank Masi, Columbia Pictures-Sony The two rely on the help of associates, work their way around Miami and wind up in an abandoned theme park where a giant gator adds one more layer of entertainment. In a closing segment, “Ride or Die” has all the excitement of the first “Bad Boys” film. It doesn’t send any messages, but it does say there’s still life in the two actors.
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Lawrence, who looked like he was headed to a guest spot on “The Neighborhood,” rallies here and fends off those ideas that he’s too old for this kind of work. After the heart attack, he thinks his invincible and demonstrates as much with his partner. Smith pulls back a bit but doesn’t disappear.
“Ride or Die” is a reset that lets him move past the Academy Awards slap (Lawrence helps). Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack The two banter about aging.